Join Jessica Rickards along with TellMe TV CEO, Kevin Shaw, for this spotlight on TellMe TV. Gone is the old name and website for this fantastic audio description service, and what has replaced it is a more streamline, futuristic site with greater mobile device integration and app support.
If you would like to try out this incredible service, TellMe TV is offering a special promotion just for our listeners. If you would like to start a free trial of TellMe TV, enter promo code TELLME17 when you sign up and you’ll receive 3 months free.read more

On Monday, Google updated its Voice app for the first time in five years. Many people, for good reason, thought that Google had abandoned the service. It appears that Google is working to make Hangouts an enterprise service, and move consumer calling features over to Google Voice. Now Google Voice has reorganized that app to make it easier to access your text messages and voice mails. The company has also promised to update the app regularly. One of the new features that will be coming soon is VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol, which is a feature that allows you to make calls over the internet without a phone service provider. We look forward to this feature.
Check the revised app for Android and iOS.read more

This week’s episode of VIP has plenty of surprises and interesting information. Join hosts Joel Ramos, James Oates and Jessica Rickards as they discuss the happenings in the world of accessible technology. This week’s first surprise has nothing to do with tech but will leave plenty of the guys heartbroken. You’ve been warned! read more

As parents, we know how important it is to get our children interested in science, technology, engineering, and math. So, it is exciting to see that Amazon has launched a new subscription service to help make learning these subjects fun.
Amazon’s STEM Club subscription costs $19.99 per month. It is available for children 3-4 years old, 5-7 years old, and 8-13 years old. Each month, your child will receive a different toy selected by Amazon. The subscription can be canceled at any time.read more

For fifty years, We have watched Star Trek characters use the voice command, “computer”, to begin interacting with the ship’s computer. Now you can interact with your Amazon Echo in the same way. Below are step by step instructions on how to change the wake word on your Echo. Enjoy, and have fun.read more

A new update to Xbox One is slowly rolling out to insiders. One of the coolest new features is co-pilot. Co-pilot allows two Xbox controllers to function as one controller. This will allow people with disabilities to use alternative methods to play a game. They can use a hand and a foot, hand and chin, hands far apart, etc. Blind gamers will also be able to have a sighted co-pilot play alongside, helping as the game goes along. There are also new features being added to Magnifier and Narrator. Gamers will also have more control over sound output and rumble settings using a standard controller.
To see a list of all the new features in this Xbox update, visit here.

When you open the Windows Store on your PC, tablet, or phone, you will see a section labeled books. Here you can purchase, download, and read your favorite books. Microsoft uses Edge to read and store your collection. You can access the books from the hub on the Edge toolbar. The new eBook store is being tested as part of insider build 15014, and should be ready to be a part of the Creators Update that will come out in April for everyone else. Here is more information from the developer.read more

Dictation Bridge is an add-on that works with NVDA to make using speech recognition software more accessible. Anything that you dictate will be read back to you automatically by NVDA. I find this to be a very useful feature because it lets you know if what you said is what was entered on the screen. You can also select text and ask Dictation Bridge to check spelling. I don’t see this being very helpful for Microsoft Word users, but perhaps it can be helpful when working in other applications.
These features work with both Microsoft Speech Recognition and Dragon NaturallySpeaking, but the following only work with Dragon.
You can use your voice to control NVDA and also check to see if your microphone is active. Here is a more complete description:read more

The biggest story here is that Canada received a new feature before anyone else. This almost never happens. The YouTube mobile app has a new share tab that allows you to add friends and family as contacts and create groups. Once that is done, you can share your favorite videos with a group or people from your contacts.
Watch this video on the new feature.Source.

In this episode Robert Kempf from Bones shows us three versions of theMilestone
line of audio players for the blind and low vision play audio books and music, record lectures and messages, read text files and eBooks, enable you to label objects and much more. Soon, they will also talk to public transportation vehicles.